IMPD chief, local leaders discuss situation in Baltimore

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INDIANAPOLIS (April 27, 2015) - Local leaders met to discuss the situation in Baltimore, and the fears that similar riots could take place elsewhere in the days and weeks to come.

Chief Rick Hite released the following statement Monday about the situation:

“In difficult times like these, it is not uncommon to hear threats made nationwide. Be assured the IMPD, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, are monitoring any and all threats. As always, we will continue to dialogue and collaborate with the Indianapolis community to maintain our peaceful relationships and keep our city safe.”

Hite also spoke with Rev. Charles Harrison of the Ten Point Coalition on Monday, who shared his thoughts with FOX59.

“I’m very frustrated to see that taking place, to see all that violence and lawlessness taking place in Baltimore where individuals are damaging and destroying their own community,” said Harrison. “A lot has already happened, and I’m just afraid it’s only going to escalate as we go into the night hours.”

Harrison’s organization went to Ferguson last year to help in the aftermath of the riots there, but he said he was not expecting to be called out to Baltimore to provide similar assistance.

Still, he feels if Indianapolis were to experience similar protests, that our city would be better equipped to prevent the same kind of unrest.

“If we have that kind of incident here, we have a lot of strong groups that work very closely with the police department that I think would help prevent something like that from happening in Indianapolis,” said Harrison. “As I’m watching on TV the first thing that came to my mind is that order needs to be brought to that community. Community leaders, religious leaders need to be out there on the streets with the police trying to calm the community and to bring order to the streets of Baltimore.”